It really didn't matter though did it. He redefined DH mountain biking that day IMO.
Sam Hill DNQ at aus national series
- Thread starter RaID
- Start date
hate to burst your bubble, but kovarick has smashed graves in three seperate races in the last few weeks, but didnt race this round of the nationals. still, graves is a pinnor so nothing would surprise me.
Yeah, saw that Kovarik smashed up the 3 race thing at Illinbah/Canungra, definitely in form as well, though I don't know how that "bursts my bubble".
For whoever's getting pissy about me saying that Hill isn't suited to the course at Stromlo, cry me a freakin' river you big blouses. Look at his recent results there, he's been a way off the pace at both the Aussie nationals and the World Cup. In fact, his result there is probably what cost him the World Cup overall title this year.
They guys an idol of mine and is in fact the greatest DH rider Australia has ever produced. He's a guy who trains hard to improve areas of weakness, hence me saying he needs to get his legs and lungs right, just a simple observation.
Not probably, but thats where he lost the world cup. All his other results are top 5 in the world cups (from memory)
im superstitious, hill switched bikes now the bad luck begins!!!
if anything the bad luck began at the worlds
yeah but only becouse the big S forced him to switch bikes, you can't blame the mighty horse for that
When you're riding at the level Sam and other world cup racers are, they could probably ride any bike and still be fast... put them on a big wheel or green machine, and they'd still beat the majority of us 
It mattered the most that day. It all boils down to that final run on that day for all the racers there. The title, the contingency money & bonuses, the marketing dollars of the rainbow stripes for Ironhorse and all his sponsors, his marketing value. That crash cost everyone involved with Sam Hill millions if you add it all up. You don't need to beat them by 5 seconds...you just need to win. He has had defining moments in racing for sure (his epic mud ride was more defining), but I am sure that corner haunts him.
Last edited:
Sure. It´s just that everybody gets motivated for different reasons. Some like bonuses, well... The bubble burst. Others like doing things for intrinsic motivating reasons. I prefer the latter. It´s what get things going forward.
I'm really not sure of this.....
Just check on Youtube and Freecaster the number of times that his run is viewed against Peat and Gee's run.
That is all warm and fuzzy, but you don't race for a living. It is a different mentality for a the top 5 guys in the world cup. Yes all of them love to ride. But it is different when it is your income. You can only race for a limited time and these guys need to cash in all they can as well. I'm sure these guys all ride for fun, but race for business. They all have the laid back look to them, but it is big business. I am talking the top guys...not the mid packers.
Last edited:
videos online are a tiny piece of the marketing pie. Believe me it cost everyone millions.
Cost Sram some big cash but seen as it was mainly their fault! ........... Opps!
Really, it doesn't. Not in mountain biking and especially not in DH. The numbers just aren't there to support that theory. Not now at least. We as downhillers like to think maybe it somehow does but it is one point in dozens (if not hundreds) that will go into a buying decision. The important points are things like branding, timely delivery, customer service, etc. If anything, Sam's run reinforced his branding by generating more views on playback, more magazine coverage, etc than the winner of the event.
When it all boils down, by that point in the season as a mfgr all of your pre-orders for large accounts & distributors were dialed in for months. Yes, you can place an order for extra product but by the time it every actually ships it will be past the point of effectiveness. However, leadtimes and an overall small market size prevent extra turns of inventory on the back of a big race victory.
In the big picture no one sold more/less DH product as a result of Sam auguring in at Val di Sole. They were going to sell/not sell that product regardless. You can possibly say that Commencal or Fox would see a bump as a result in sales but in reality anything would have been incremental and not in the magnitude of "millions" (implying several million).
-ska todd
Last edited:
I thought about pointing that out, but coming from somebody who actually knows what they're talking about in the industry, it means more, good work!
I don´t know. I know what you´re saying, but you´re making it way too simple, I think. It´s more to it than that. You can´t be a top level athlete for long if your motivation is mainly to maximize your market position, or your sponsors market position.
When you're riding at the level Sam and other world cup racers are, they could probably ride any bike and still be fast... put them on a big wheel or green machine, and they'd still beat the majority of us
If I only had a nickle for every time...
u guys are idiots!
it doesn't matter bout the bike, when your at his level!
it doesn't matter bout the bike, when your at his level!
...and so this thread has run it's course...
The DH forum is turning to sht.
The DH forum is turning to sht.
somebody needs to say it. Stop responding. Its called trolling. Chill out. I know it provokes a response, but suck it up and don't respond. MTBR is the new pinkbike, and this is rapidly turning into mtbr. Pretty soon we'll see "What bike" threads with DH bikes, FR bikes, and two XC bikes.
Anyway, looking forward to another good year of racing and hope to see Hill continue to stay on top, or near the top. He's a good rider for sure
Anyway, looking forward to another good year of racing and hope to see Hill continue to stay on top, or near the top. He's a good rider for sure
that vid is from his "sweeper" run
he manged to somehow accelerate like a sling shot out of that last berm in the vid. Was quite impressive
he manged to somehow accelerate like a sling shot out of that last berm in the vid. Was quite impressive
He is being dealt with, I promise.
Seriously.
Apart from making a few statements about a certain bike that were factually 99% correct and were not argued otherwise.
What have I done ?
I've been called "idiot", "totally stupid", "azzhat" etc and haven't said the slightest thing in response because really, it's no big deal is it ? If you're getting that upset over a few cheap comments from either side you are surely taking life a little too seriously don't you think ?
Apart from making a few statements about a certain bike that were factually 99% correct and were not argued otherwise.
What have I done ?
I've been called "idiot", "totally stupid", "azzhat" etc and haven't said the slightest thing in response because really, it's no big deal is it ? If you're getting that upset over a few cheap comments from either side you are surely taking life a little too seriously don't you think ?
JCL, drop it. You've wrecked a thread by taking it off topic, thats what you've been warned for. Read DirtyDogs post. For the love of it, dont derail this or any other thread anymore.